Swinging gate



2 sheets sheet 1.

(No Model.)

R E D N A X E. An A G .G Hm G m mm V A D P W Patented May 17 llNIrn STATES I FICE.

PATENT WILLIAM P. DAvIs, on WARREN, AND HENRY J. ALEXANDER, or HUNTINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA.

swmeme GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 604,110, dated May 17, 1898. Application filed November 15, 1897. Serial No. 658,590. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM P. DAvIs,

residing at Warren, in the county of Huntington, and HENRY J. ALEXANDER, residing in Huntington county, State of Indiana, citi- Zens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swinging Gates; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to opening and closing apparatus for swinging gates, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with farm-gates, which it is a great convenience to be able to open and close without dismounting from a vehicle or from horseback.

The present invention has relation more particularly to that type of such apparatus in,which the actuating devices are arranged overhead to be manipulated by hand and the principal object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby a reciprocatory move ment of an overhead actuator is converted into a complete swing of the gate to open or close the same, so that the same position of the actuator obtains whether the gate be open or closed, and the operator manipulates the apparatus in exactly the same Way when opening the gate as when closing the same@'. 6., by a reciprocatory movement of the actuator.

With the above-stated objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter specifically described, and the essential elements thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawings which accompany and form part of this specification illustrate a form of embodiment of the invention.

Of said drawings, Figure 1 represents the complete apparatus, in perspective, in connection with a swinging gate, which is shown as closed. Fig. 2 represents the same in plan. Fig.3 represents the middle portion of the apparatus in perspective, illustrating on a larger scale than Fig. 1 the relative positions of parts when the gate is closed. Fig. 4 represents, in sectional perspective, the same portion of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3, the

parts appearing in the relative'positions. they assume when the gate has been opened part way. Figs. 5 and 6 represent, partly in section and partly in elevation, certain of the parts shown in Fig. 3, illustrating the same in different relations which they assume under different positions of the gate. Fig. 7 represents a detail of the gate member of the lower hinge, and Fig. 8 represents a detail of the post member of the upper hinge.

In the drawings the reference-letter A designates a swinging gate, of any suitable construction, supported between two posts B and B, the shorter one of which is provided with a suitable latch-slot I), while the taller post supports hinge members of the following description: The upper hinge member on the post consists of an elongated staple or loop 19 having its ends passed through the post and screw-threaded for the reception of nuts, the said loop or staple being shouldered, as at h to hold its vertical portion at such a distance from the post as to permit a free movement both vertically and rotatably of a screw-eye b, which embraces the said Vertical portion of the loop and is fastened in the inner up right of the gate. There are two lower hinge members shown as fastened to the post 13, each consisting of an angle-iron with a horizontal arm 0 passing through the post and screw-threaded for the reception of a nut and an upstanding arm 0 having a flattened projection or nib c on one side at the top. The inner post of the gate has secured in it near its lower end a hinge member in the form of a screw-eye a with a keyhole-shaped opening 0* in its horizontally-flattened head, corresponding with the formation at the upper end of each lower hinge member on the post B. The construction of the lower hinge member on the gate is clearly illustrated in Fig. 7,. and by reference to Fig. 3 it will be clearly seen that the form and construction of these lower hinge members permits the one on the gate to he slipped down over the upstanding arm of either member on the post B, so as to rest against the horizontal arm thereof, in which position it is free to turn on said upstanding arm, and the gate will have to be turned to a certain position before the lower hinge members can be disengaged by lifting the gate.

Thus accidental displacement of the gate, by hogs rooting under it or other causes, is effectually guarded against. Two lower hinge members are provided on the post B, so that the gate may be supported in an elevated position in bad weather, the construction of the upperhinge, as above described, permitting a vertical movement of the gate, as will be apparent, and the latch-slot b in the post B being correspondingly elongated for the same abutment for coaction with the same mem- The latch 01 is of the sliding variety and is purpose.

supported on rollers d and held in latching position by a spring (P. The connections for withdrawing the latch against the stress of said spring by the operation of the gate-opening mechanism will be described hereinafter.

The post B is suitably braced by tie-rods e and e, the latter being fastened at one end to an anchor 6 embedded in the ground, and being screw-threaded at its opposite end, which passes through the post, so that it may receive a nut 6 provision being thus made for adjustment of the post to compensate for sagging of the gate.

The actuator for the gate opening and clossuitable manner which will permit a rocking movement of the bar. Trusses f extend across and are fastened to the barf, the said trusses being-disposed at opposite inclinations to each other and being fastened to-' gether at the point f 3 and one of them having a portion f extending beyond said point of connection and braced by a cross-bar f fastened to its end and also to the other truss and to the barf. To further strengthen the framework at this point and to provide a support for-parts hereinafter mentioned, the short cross-piece f is extended between the crosspiece f and the truss j", which fastens to the latter. The outer or end portions of the actuator-frame are braced by bars f extending between the ends of the longitudinal bar f and the outer portions of the trussesf Depending from the extremities of the latter are pull-rods or handles f conveniently located for manipulation by any one seated in a vehicle or riding horseback.

Reverting to the central portion of the actuatingframe, with reference more particularly to Figs. 3 to 6, it will be observed that the short cross-piece f is in a much higher plane than the truss extension f and between these two members of the frame there are-extended a pair-of rods 9 and g, which-constitute shouldersor'abutments, as will hereinafter appear,

This bar is here shown connected with and are of sufficient extent to allow vertical play of members, hereinafter described, with which they coact. Guidingrods g and g depend from the cross-piece f parallel with the bars g and g, to properly confine the members, hereinafter described, with which the latter coact. A plate his fastened across the truss extension f and the lower end portion of the cross-bar f, the upper edge h of said plate constituting a horizontal shoulder or bers above referred to as coacting with the rods 9 and g". These members are in the form of bars i and 2', set on edge and extending between the bars or rods 9 and g and g and 9 respectively, and arranged to rest by gravity against the edge h of the plate h. These bars 1'- and z" are constructed at their inner ends for coaction with the said plate.

and the rods 9 and g in a manner which will be presently described, and at their outer ends are connected with the gate, the points of connection with the latter being in different radial lines from the hinging -center thereof.

At the inner ends of the bars 1' and 7;, beyond the rods 9 and g, studs 2' and i project from the outer side of the bars for the abutment or abuttal thereagainst of said rods 9 and g, respectively, and the under edges of the bars are notched to form shoulders 2' -and i for the abutment or abuttal thereagainst of the front edge h of the plate h. I On the inner sides of the bars 1; and t", at the extremities thereof, there are fastened obliquely-set cams i and 2' wedge-shaped in cross-section and rounded on their upper and lower edges.

The outer end of the bar 2', which extends in a lower plane than the outer end of the bar 1', is loosely coupled to a pendent arm j of a rock-shaft j, which extends substantially at right angles to the gate and is journaled at one end in a screw-eye 7' fastened in the inner upright of the gate, and at the other end is journaled in a bracket composed of a horizontally-extending member 7' and a vertically and obliquely extending member 3 4, the latter extending downwardly from the rock-shaft and then obliquely to the bottom of the inner post of the gate and constituting a guard to protect the apparatus from accidental displacement, as by stock rubbing against it. The said pendent arm j projects from the rock-shaft near its outer end for connection with the bar i, whereas bar 2" is ICC loosely coupled at its inner end with an up- I the gate at a point more nearly in alinement therewith. It will therefore be seen that a swinging movement of the gate in one direction, effected by a movement of the bar 1' in the same direction, can be continued by a movement of the bar 71 in the opposite direction, this by reason of the above-described relation of the points of connection of the two bars to the hinging-center of the gate.

It may be here stated that the rock-shaft j is provided with a short arm j, which depends for connection with a rod is, extending longitudinally through suitable openings in the gate and being connected at its forward end'with the latch d for the purpose of withdrawing the latter when the bar t is moved in a direction to open the gate, a slight movement of the rock-shaft j being permitted to accomplish this, limited by a loop j on the gate, embracing the arm j In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the parts are shown in the relation which obtains when the gate is closed, and it will be noted that the stud i of the bar '6 lies immediately behind the abutment-rod g,and, moreover, a shoulder "i in the under edge of the said bar 0; lies in front of the edge h of the plate It. It will further be noted that. the bar 2" is projected some distance past the abutment-rod g and its lower edge rests upon the plate It outwardly beyond the shoulders v1 central portion upwardly and away from the gate. This causes the abutment-rod g to act upon the bar i, which pull is first transmitted to the rock-shaftj, effectingasufficient movement thereof to release the latch through the connections described, and thereafter has the efiect of swinging the gate part way open. This movement of the actuator-frame carries the cam t over the upper surface of the cam 17, asillustrated in Fig. 4, where the gate is represented as in a partially open position. The eifect of the cam i riding upon the cam 71 is to elevate the former, and consequently the bar '5, so that the shoulder 71 of the latter is disengaged from the plate h. Just before or just at the time this takes place the upper edge of the plate h passes one of the shoulders of the bar 'i', and the latter drops and assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 4, with one of its shoulders in front of the edge h of the plate h. The operator having executed the ,downwardpull on the handle f to bring about the operations just described immediately pushes upward on the said handle, thereby effecting a reversal of movement of the actuatorframe. The resulting downward movement of the central portion of said frame causes the plate h to act against the shoulder i of the bar 1'', moving the latter to complete the opening of the gate through its connections therewith, it being understood that the points of connect-ion between the bars and the gateare at this time on opposite sides of a plane embracing the hinging-center of the gate and the point of engagement of eitherof the bars with the actuator-frame. On the completion of the opening of the gate the relation of parts is as illustrated in Fig. 5, the

. stud 2' of the bar 1 lying immediately behind the rod g, whereas the bar a is projected considerably beyond the rod g. The closing of the gate is effected by the same manipulations of the actuator-frame as were pursued in the opening of the gate. It will be observed that a downward pull upon either handle f causes the rod g to act against the stud i and thereby impart movement to the bar 2" in a direction to. close the gate; but this manipulation of the actuator only part way closes the gate. The cam 17 then rides upon the cam t, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and thereby the bar t" is elevated to disengage its shoulder i from the plate It, and the bar '5 resumes its first position with one of its shoulders 43 in front of the edge h of the plate h and its stud 2' immediately behind the:abutment-rodg. An upward movement of the handle f completes the closing of the gate, such manipulation. of the handle effecting a downward movement of the central portion of the actuator-frame, and consequently causing the plate h to act against the shoulder 2' of the bar t', and thereby impart such movement to the latter as to,

effect a completion of the closing movement of the gate. l

It will thus be seen that we have provided a double set of connections between a rocking actuator and a swinging gate, with provisions for alternating the operative engagement between the members or sections of such double set of connections and the actuator, so that by a reciprocatory movement or manipulation of the actuator the gate may be caused to execute a complete swing in either a closing or an opening direction, and when the gate has been fully opened the position of the actuator is the same as when the gate is closed. Of course it will be understood that the weight of the parts on the rear side of the post B may be sufficient to effect the completion of movement of the gate, so that the operator need only pull downward upon eitherhandlef and then release his hold upon the same.

It is evident that the construction and arrangement of parts here shown and described are susceptible of a great many variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence we do not limit ourselves to the particular form of embodimen of the invention here illustrated.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Mechanism for opening and closing a swinging gate, comprising a rocking actuator, and a double set of operating connections between the same and the gate with provisions for automatic alternation, whereby reciprocation of'the rocker may be converted into a complete swing of the gate in onedirection, substantially as described.

2. Mechanism for opening and closing a swinging gate, comprising a rocking actuator, and a pair of connector-bars coupled with the gate in differentradial lines from the h-ingingcenter thereof, said actuator and bars having coacting abutments and said bars having coacting cams to alternately disengage abutments thereof from abutments on the actuator, substantially as and for the purpose described. r

3. Mechanism for opening and closing a swinging gate, comprising an elongated rocking actuator having a" plurality of verticallyextending shoulders ora'butments anda horizontally-extending shoulder or abutment, connector-bars coupled with the gatein differe-n't radial lines from its hinging-cen'ter andarranged to bear upon the horizontal shoulder or abutment adjacent to the vertically-extending shoulders or abutments, said bars having lateral projections for engagement with the latter and shoulders for engagement with the horizontal shoulder of the actuator, and also having coacting cams to eltect alternate disengagement of the bars from said horizon'tal shoulder, substantially as described.

4. Mechanism for opening and closing a swinging gate, comprising an elongatedactu} ating rocker-frameobliquelydisposed on ele-' vated supports and having at or near its middle lower portion a horizontally-extending edge or shoulder and a plurality of vertically extending abutments or shoulders adjacent thereto, a pair of connector-bars set on edgei to rest upon the said horizontal shoulder and having teeth or shoulders to alternately en gage the same for movement of said bars in one direction by the actuator, the bars having coacting cams to alternately disengage them from the said horizontal shoulder and also provided with lateral abutments or projections for engagement with the vertical abutments of the actuator to effect movement of the bars alternately in a direction opposite to that produced through their engagement with the horizontal shoulder, and arms projecting laterally and divergently from the gate at the hinged end thereof and pivotal-1y connected with the .bars respectively.

5. Mechanism for opening and closing a swinging gate, comprising a rocking actuator, a double set of operating connections between the same and the gate with provisions for antomatic alternation whereby reciprocation of the rocker may be converted into acomplete swing of the gate in one direction, and alatch on the gate coupled with thesaidconnections, substantially as described.

6. Mechanism for opening and closing a swinging gate, comprisinga rock-shaft on the hinge end of the gate and projecting laterally therefrom and having a plurality of arms, a bracket fastened on the gate and supporting the outer end of said rock-shaft, said bracket comprising a member extending downwardly to constitute a guard for a pendent arm .of the rock-shaft, a latch on the'gate operatively connected with an arm of the rock-shaft, a rocking actuator, and suitable connections between the same and thersaid rock-shaft.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM P. DAVIS. HENRY J. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

WILL PURVIANCE, L. R. 0&1 1. 

